Wounded warriors bike across America Published March 15, 2012 By Stefan Bocchino 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. -- At noon, Sunday, during a ceremony at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, Kirtland Air Force Base will welcome two disabled veterans who are biking across America to raise awareness about the sacrifices of veterans. The cyclists are Jeremy Staat, a retired NFL player and former Marine, and Wesley Leon-Barrientos, a medically retired soldier from the 101st Airborne Division. They are cycling to unite veterans by bridging the generational gaps between them to ignite the spirit of unity and raise awareness about veterans' issues. They started their mission Feb. 19 at the Bakersfield, Calif., Wall of Valor and intend to cycle 4,163 miles, ending their trip at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day. They will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Operation Rolling Thunder and the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Staat joined the Marines in 2005 after his best friend, Pat Tilman, another former NFL player, was killed in Afghanistan. In 2009, Staat separated from the military for a service connected injury. Leon-Barrientos served in the 101st Airborne Division as an infantryman. He is a three-time recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. In 2007, while on patrol in Iraq, he lost both legs to a roadside bomb.